Plant Manager

Korn Ferry; Allentown (Lehigh County); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Korn Ferry has partnered with our client on their search for a Plant Manager to lead Allentown, PA manufacturing and warehouse operations. You will report to the VP of Operations, drive safety, manufacturing excellence, and continuous improvement initiatives while delivering on the profit plan.

The role requires navigating a fast-paced, high-visibility environment, collaborating with senior management, customers and suppliers to achieve short- and long-term objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree is required; MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred.
• Fifteen or more years in progressively responsible roles, recent Plant Manager or Plant Director in multi-site manufacturing.
• Experience in vertical/horizontal machining, welding, painting, and batch-processing.
• Proven ability to manage plant operations, planning and quality in manufacturing.
• Strong leadership with ability to attract and develop top talent.
• Expertise in strategic planning, data analysis and presenting to senior management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; hands-on management style.
• Experience with Six Sigma, Lean manufacturing, budgeting and HR.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement and manage manufacturing strategies, processes and tools to meet the company's mission and vision.
• Plan, direct and coordinate safety culture, manufacturing excellence and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Monitor KPIs and performance to align with annual and long-range business plans.
• Optimize scheduling, labor, equipment utilization, production capacity, material storage and delivery methods.
• Lead cross-functional teams to forecast demand and create supply plans.
• Identify problems and pursue balanced-risk solutions.
• Support strategic due diligence on potential acquisitions and facility expansions.
• Develop and manage budgets and monitor performance against objectives.

Skills

Six Sigma

Lean Manufacturing

Budgeting

Strategic planning

Data analysis

Leadership

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA

Job description

Korn Ferry has partnered with our client on their search for the role, Plant Manager.

Purpose of the Position

The Plant Manager will report to the Vice President of Operations and is expected to provide leadership and critical control of all day-to-day aspects of planning, manufacturing, quality and continuous improvement initiatives.

The Plant Manager will have primary responsibility for the Company's manufacturing and warehouse location in Allentown, PA and will carefully monitor all daily aspects of the manufacturing operations. The Plant Manager will be a key member of the leadership team, supporting strategic initiatives and tactical execution of the Company's annual and long range business plan. This is a high-visibility leadership role and as such, will interact frequently with other members of the senior management team, employees at all levels, customers and suppliers.

Key Responsibilities

Responsibilities of the role: The Plant Manager will develop, implement and manage manufacturing strategies, processes and tools to meet the Company's mission and vision. This position will be an effective owner of assets, processes and capabilities utilized within all locations in order to cost-effectively produce and ship the products which will deliver the Company's profit plan.

The Plant Manager will plan, direct and coordinate efforts to champion a strong culture of safety, manufacturing excellence and drive continuous improvements using a variety of tools including, but not limited to: Six Sigma process improvement and Lean Manufacturing practices such as Value Stream Mapping, 5S, Kaizen events, Kanban systems, SMED, GEMBA-walks, continuous flow, etc. Additionally, the Plant Manager needs to be ready to assist on an additional manufacturing location near-term.

This critical management position will require the use of data and metrics as key performance indicators to keep plant employees focused on meeting company goals and objectives, as well as to assist ownership in effectively managing overall company performance.

Specifically, this individual will:

• Direct and lead the activities of the Allentown, PA operations/facilities.
• Act as safety champion and advocate best practices across the Company.
• Empower team and motivate others on personal growth and continuous improvement mindset.
• Ensure our customers are delighted with very short lead times, quality products/services, rapid response to their needs, and ultimate flexibility.
• Actively participate in analyzing, evaluating and adjusting the company’s short and long range strategic operating plans and objectives, including acquisitions, financial matters, expansion of operating facilities, investments and related matters.
• Develop annual budgets, plans and objectives, and monitor and evaluate the performance of the manufacturing and warehousing operations versus objectives.
• Set objectives for each area of operation. Develop specific short- and long-term plans, including financial impacts.
• Optimize scheduling, labor requirements, equipment utilization, production capability, material storage, and delivery methods to improve productivity, efficiency, waste elimination, and quality.
• Identify problems and pursue solutions with balanced risk.
• Assure protection for the assets of the business through interior controls, internal auditing, risk management, insurance coverage and operating procedures.
• Develop ideation and seek approval for high ROIC-projects which will help the Company advance cost reduction, waste reduction, manufacturing efficiencies, lead-time enhancement, quality management and margin improvement/sustainability.
• Continuously monitor and improve operations capabilities reporting and KPI analysis.
• Manage activities related to strategic or tactical purchasing, material requirements planning, inventory control, warehousing, or receiving.
• Develop and work with cross-functional teams to forecast demand or create supply plans that ensure availability of materials or products.
• Implement effective sourcing processes to drive cost savings and improve overall supplier management
• Analyze inventories to determine how to increase inventory turns, reduce waste, or optimize customer service.
• Assess appropriate material handling equipment needs and staffing levels to load, unload, move, or store materials.
• Select transportation routes to maximize efficiencies in warehousing and distribution.
• Support Management team on any operational due diligence evaluations of potential acquisition targets.

The Candidate

Experience and Professional Qualifications: The Candidate will be an experienced operations professional with significant experience in a multi facility manufacturing environment. This individual must be extremely intelligent, personable, dynamic, and innovative, with exceptional strategic and analytical skills, yet is also an energetic, day-to-day "roll your-sleeves-up" team player. The Plant Manager must also possess solid communication skills, a strong leadership presence, and the ability to influence and work effectively with senior management, manufacturing supervisors, factory-floor personnel, customers and suppliers.

The successful candidate’s qualifications will include:

• A minimum of fifteen (15) years of experience in progressively more responsible functions, most recently as a Plant Manager or Plant Director in a multi-site manufacturing environment.
• Experience in vertical & horizontal machining, welding, painting, and batch-processing is a must have.
• Proven successful experience in managing plant operations, planning and quality within manufacturing environments.
• An excellent leader and manager of people with the ability to attract, develop and retain "A" level talent and build a strong team by promoting and rewarding individuals who have made significant contributions.
• Strong foundation in team-oriented strategic planning process with a keen sensitivity to the trends in the marketplace and ability to turn those trends to significant company advantage.
• Ability to synthesize, analyze and present data, including solid skills in recognizing and evaluating areas for change.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, the ideal candidate will possess the ability to present his/her ideas in a clear, concise and compelling fashion to senior management and board members.
• Solid record of accomplishments and achievements in developing, staffing and managing teams within a high performance-oriented culture.
• Hands-on, "in the trenches" management style with a strong work ethic, high level of energy and enthusiasm, having the ability to be totally involved in all aspects of a growing company.
• A mature executive with a high degree of intelligence, integrity and honesty as well as a social/cultural awareness and sensitivity.
• Demonstrated experience in Six-Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, improvement processes, budgeting, planning and human resources.

Education

• A Bachelor's degree is required. An MBA or advanced degree is strongly preferred.